Construction Begins on Tremont Avenue Busway in The Bronx

• Construction is underway on Tremont Avenue's one-mile busway, the first busway in The Bronx.
• The project will improve service for approximately 39,000 daily Bx36 riders and add 0.26 miles of additional bus lanes.
• The redesign will include dedicated bus lanes, a shared bus-and-bike lane, new loading zones and safety improvements at eight intersections.
• The corridor will run from Webster Avenue to Southern Boulevard and connect riders to eight subway lines, Metro-North Railroad and other bus routes.

What The Tremont Avenue Busway Will Change

Construction has begun on the Tremont Avenue busway, bringing a long-planned bus-priority corridor to The Bronx. The approximately one-mile project runs along Tremont Avenue from Webster Avenue to Southern Boulevard and is expected to improve travel for the roughly 39,000 people who ride the Bx36 each day. The project is being led by the New York City Department of Transportation as part of the city's broader effort to make bus service faster and more reliable. Tremont Avenue has been designated as one of the city's Priority Corridors under Next Stop: Fast Buses, Better Service, a joint initiative involving New York City, New York State and the MTA.

What The New Busway Will Include

The redesign will use several different bus-priority treatments along Tremont Avenue. An eastbound busway will run from Third Avenue to Southern Boulevard, while a westbound busway will extend from Southern Boulevard to Belmont Avenue. Between Webster Avenue and Third Avenue, the eastbound side will include an offset lane shared by buses and bicycles. The busway will operate seven days a week from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Through traffic will be restricted to buses, trucks with six or more wheels, emergency vehicles and Access-A-Ride vans. Other vehicles, including taxis and for-hire vehicles, will still be able to enter from side streets for local access, but they will have to make the next available right turn. The shorter westbound section is designed to maintain vehicle access to every block for deliveries, pick-ups and drop-offs.

What The Safety Improvements Will Add

Safety is another major part of the Tremont Avenue redesign. The corridor is a Vision Zero Priority Corridor and has experienced a high number of pedestrian injuries and fatalities. Between 2020 and 2024, nearly 630 people were injured in crashes along the corridor. Forty-six people suffered severe injuries and four people were killed during that period. The project will redesign eight intersections, including locations at Webster Avenue, Third Avenue, Southern Boulevard and Crotona Parkway. Planned improvements include painted sidewalk extensions that reduce crossing distances and encourage drivers to make slower turns. The extensions will be reinforced with plastic flex posts and granite blocks, while new bicycle parking will also be installed.

What The Project Will Do for Bus Riders

The busway is intended to give Bx36 buses a clearer path through one of The Bronx's busiest corridors. Limiting through traffic during operating hours should reduce delays caused by congestion, while new loading zones are intended to address double parking and keep buses moving. Enforcement will come from a combination of stationary cameras, bus-mounted cameras and the NYPD. NYC DOT will also update curb regulations along the corridor. The improved route will provide connections to eight subway lines, Metro-North Railroad and several local bus routes, making Tremont Avenue an important link within the borough's broader transit network.

What Brought The Busway to Construction

The project has been in development for several years. NYC DOT presented its final proposal in March 2025 and initially expected installation to begin that spring. The previous administration later paused the project, citing concerns about community support. The current administration revived the plan in July as part of its broader fast-bus initiative and designated Tremont Avenue as a priority corridor. With construction now underway, the project marks a significant shift from planning to implementation for the city's first busway in The Bronx.

What The Project Means for Tremont Avenue

The Tremont Avenue busway is more than a transit improvement. The redesign will change how vehicles, buses, bicycles and pedestrians use one of the borough's major east-west corridors. For residents and businesses along Tremont Avenue, the most noticeable changes will include dedicated bus space, new curb regulations, loading areas and redesigned intersections. For Bx36 riders, the goal is a faster and more predictable trip through the corridor. The project also adds another piece to New York City's broader effort to improve bus service while reducing serious crashes on streets with some of the city's highest safety risks.